JAMESBURG — Otto Kostbar and Daria Ludas are looking forward to continuing to serve their community, now that voters have given them new terms on the Borough Council.
In the Nov. 4 election, Democrats Kostbar, 58, and Ludas, 59, received 1,086 and 1,048 votes, respectively, to defeat RepublicanWilliam Brian Duke, 36, who garnered 841 votes. The council will remain all Democrats, as has been the case for several years.
Also, just after the election, Councilman Joseph Jennings resigned his seat, which he has held since 2000. The council appointed borough resident local real estate agent Brenda Deans as his successor.
Kostbar, an attorney who has served 10 years and will begin a new three-year term Jan. 1, said he is “very grateful” that voters saw fit to re-elect him. He feels that his next term will be difficult due to the economic troubles that residents of Jamesburg and the state and nation are facing, and hopes to use his experience to address the issue.
Ludas, an elementary school teacher, said she was “pleasantly surprised” when she learned of winning what will be her first three-year term. She has been serving on the council for just two months, having been appointed by the council in September to fill the remainder of an expired term.
Kostbar said he attributes the victories to the consistent success of Jamesburg’s governing body. He said the Democrats have invested a significant amount of time and effort into improving the borough. As an example, he pointed to a vast reduction in the crime rate. He said Jamesburg used to have a “very high” crime rate, but now ranks as the second safest town in Middlesex County.
“And I think that’s quite an accomplishment,” he said.
“For us, that’s the biggest improvement in town,” he said. “We got more businesses as a result, and people enjoy the town more.”
Kostbar said the council has been proactive and successful in obtaining grant funding, especially for infrastructure improvements. The town has garnered millions of dollars in grants from a variety of sources, sparing the local taxpayer the expense. The monies have been used for sidewalks, beautifying the downtown area, sewer system improvements and the Buckelew mansion, he said.
“All that comes from a lot of meetings and time, digging out grants for the town,” Kostbar said.
“People can see it with their own eyes,” he said.
Ludas said her time so far on the council has been “intriguing,” as well as a bit “hectic and busy.” Prior to being on the council, she was involved with the Jamesburg Civic Association, Patriotic Committee, Holiday Lighting Committee and the Jamesburg Public Library Board of Trustees. She has also assisted with local political campaigns in the past.
“It’s a small town and a small community, and I have always been part of that,” Ludas said.
Ludas has said her goals as a council member are to attract new businesses to Jamesburg, and to keep municipal taxes stable by pursuing grants and shared services.
Ludas’ term formerly belonged to Thomas Bodall, who was arrested Sept. 4 on charges of attempted endangering the welfare of a minor and distributing obscene material to a minor on the Internet. Bodall then resigned his council seat and withdrew his name from the election ballot.
Jennings takes state post
Jennings said he decided to resign his council seat after taking a job with the state Department of Labor, an opportunity he said he could not pass up. Jennings, a Vietnam veteran who previously worked as a business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 456, recently earned a bachelor’s degree in labor studies from National Labor College in Maryland.
He said the town is in good hands with the current governing body.
“I have enjoyed my time as a Jamesburg councilman,” he said. “I have had the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of individuals on the council and the mayor [Anthony LaMantia]. Everyone brings a different prospective to the borough, ideas are expressed and a consensus is reached to do what is in the best interest of our residents. That’s why I am confident that the mayor and council will continue to make the difficult decisions that confront our community.”
Jennings said he is thankful to the borough’s employees for their dedication to the town.